Black Hills Elopement at the Norwegian Chapel In The Hills

Rena & Chris

It’s crazy to think that it was less than 1 year ago Rena and Chris initially reached out to me and told me about their dream of eloping in The Black Hills of South Dakota! They had never visited The Black Hills (being from the Connecticut), so as you can imagine they were pretty stoked to get out and experience all The Black Hills has to offer!

At this stage of their planning process (only 4 months out) they didn’t have much figured out, aside from knowing photography was the most important item on their list (to the point that they were willing to change their day based on my availability…talk about flattering and jaw dropping!). They wanted to avoid all the typical wedding stress and keep things simple and intimate. Immediately I knew we were going to be a great fit, and we began talking potential ideas and locations!

I always try to hangout with my couples in person before the actual wedding day, simply to “pop that initial bubble” of meeting new people. While this wasn’t an option for us, we were still able to get together the evening before the wedding. It was great meeting up at Lost Cabin Brewing Co; this gave us the chance to relax before the big day, get to know each other more, and get any questions out of the way. We were able to go into the wedding day stress free and know exactly what to expect! :)

The next day I met up with Rena and Christ at their hotel in Rapid City to shoot a few getting ready photos before heading to The Chapel In The Hills. Following a beautiful intimate ceremony, we ventured into the hills where they “cut” their donut on a mountain. The rest of the day we were able to enjoy some chill hiking, explore the area, and simply spend time in nature as I captured photos of their special day.

I am so thankful to have met Rena and Chris; thank you for trusting me to document such a beautiful day in your lives!